Викрадач трупів

           ‘Don’tyoucallmethatconfoundedname,’growledMacfarlane. 

           ‘Hearhim!Didyoueverseetheladsplayknife? Hewouldliketodothatallovermybody,’remarkedthestranger. 

           ‘Wemedicalshaveabetterwaythanthat,’saidFettes. ‘Whenwedislikeadeadfriendofours,wedissecthim.’ 

           Macfarlanelookedupsharply,asthoughthisjestwerescarcelytohismind. 

           Theafternoonpassed. Gray,forthatwasthestranger’sname,invitedFettestojointhematdinner,orderedafeastsosumptuousthatthetavernwasthrownintocommotion,andwhenallwasdonecommandedMacfarlanetosettlethebill. Itwaslatebeforetheyseparated; themanGraywasincapablydrunk. Macfarlane,soberedbyhisfury,chewedthecudofthemoneyhehadbeenforcedtosquanderandtheslightshehadbeenobligedtoswallow. Fettes,withvariousliquorssinginginhishead,returnedhomewithdeviousfootstepsandamindentirelyinabeyance. NextdayMacfarlanewasabsentfromtheclass,andFettessmiledtohimselfasheimaginedhimstillsquiringtheintolerableGrayfromtaverntotavern. Assoonasthehouroflibertyhadstruckhepostedfromplacetoplaceinquestofhislastnight’scompanions. Hecouldfindthem,however,nowhere;soreturnedearlytohisrooms,wentearlytobed,andsleptthesleepofthejust. 

           Atfourinthemorninghewasawakenedbythewell-knownsignal.